8. Psychological Explanations: Differential Association Theory Flashcards
What is differential association theory?
An explanation for offending which proposes that, through interaction with others, individuals learn the values, attitudes, techniques and motives for criminal behaviour.
Who tried to provide a scientific basis for the differential association theory?
Sutherland (1924) tried to develop scientific principles that cld explain all types of offending, he said ‘the conditions which are said to cause crime should be present in criminals and absent in non-criminals’
What was Sutherland’s theory attempting to do?
Sutherland was trying to explain why some people become criminals and others don’t - even those from the same background.
What is the theory of crime as a learned behaviour?
Offending behaviour may be acquired in the same way as any other behaviour through learning processes. Crime is learned through interactions with significant others the child associates with.
What are the two factors criminality arises from?
Learned attitudes towards crime
The learning of specific criminal crimes
How does criminality arise from attitudes towards crime?
Everyone is exposed to pro and anti-crime attitudes. Sutherland says that criminal behaviour will develop if an individual is exposed to more pro-crime attitudes than anti-crime attitudes. He said that it should be possible to mathematically predict the likelihood of criminality.
What are the key variables effecting the likeliness of crime stemming from attitudes to crime?
Frequency of exposure to pro-crime attitudes
Intensity of exposure to pro-crime attitudes
Duration of exposure to pro-crime attitudes
How does criminality arise from learning criminal acts?
Generally if people hang out with the wrong crowd they will be taught how to commit certain crimes.
What does criminality from learning criminal acts explain?
It offers an account of how crime may ‘breed’ among specific social groups and communities. Also explains why so many people who are released from prison go on to reoffended - learn specific crimes off inmates - practice them when released.
What are the evaluation points for the differential association psychological explanation?
+ Explanatory power
- Difficult to test
- Danger of developing stereotypes
+ Shift of focus & following applications
How does DA theory have good explanatory power?
It has the ability to account for crime in all sectors of society. Looks at typical working-class crime like burglary but also so-called ‘white-collar’ crime.
How is the DA theory difficult to test?
There is no scientific way of measuring the number of pro and anti-crime attitudes an individual is exposed to, as such it is difficult to predict criminality and know when the urge to engage in offending behaviour takes over - lacks scientific credibility.
How does the DA theory potentially lead to stereotypes?
The theory places emphasis on the exposure to criminal attitudes and activities in increasing the chances of offending behaviour. People from areas of high crime and poverty could incorrectly be stereotyped as criminals therefore.
How does the DA theory shift the focus of causes for offending behaviour and what applications does it have?
It shifts away from Lombroso’s atavistic theory. Sutherland seems to suggest that offending behaviour is down to dysfunctional environments rather than dysfunctional people. Therefore, applications can target family settings rather than eugenics or punishment.
